A 1950s timber panel from a magician’s trunk of tricks with a hand painted image of a sinister trick.
The panel depicts a classic, dramatic stage illusion associated with touring carnivals, sideshows, and golden age magic acts. A figure is shown severing a woman’s head with a large sword. The decapitated head is shown resting on a white stone pillar, surrounded by dripping theatrical blood, which was a common visual element used to sensationalise daring feats
90 cm high x 88 cm wide